BOOKSTORE BANDIT

Maybe I shouldn’t publicly admit this, especially since I have a novel releasing in ten days and I wouldn’t want bookstores shunning me, but I recently went into a bookstore and caused a ruckus.

Let me explain.

I was searching for Rae Carson’s book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I searched and searched the shelves, but it was nowhere to be found. Then I spotted one of those rolling book cart thingies sitting at the end of an aisle with books stacked up chest-high. (The real cart was narrower and had a much higher stack of books.)

I started at the top and scanned all the way down to the bottom. And there, at the very bottom of the cart, were four copies of TGOFAT. Me, being the big TGOFAT fan that I am NEEDED to see the new cover in person. I read the ARC which had a totally different cover. I needed to see the hardcover--the new cover--so I tried to wiggle the books out from the bottom of the very tall stack. However, I didn’t realize how iffy those carts are and, in ultra-slow motion, it rocked backward. I reached for it, but it was too late. The cart tipped back and crashed onto the floor. Thirty or so books went flying all over the aisle. It was loud. I actually shushed myself immediately after it happened. The five teens sitting at a table ten feet away all giggled and stared at me as I apologized and frantically tried to right the book cart dolly and stack up all the books again.

I’m sure I was ten shades of pink. I think I shushed myself and apologized until every last book was back in its place. I kept waiting for an employee to question me and threaten to kick me out. I was prepared to apologize profusely and explain what happened. I’d buy TGOFAT just so they’d know I didn’t create a scene for no good reason. I figured if nothing else, one bookstore employee would definitely know that a customer went to great lengths to get a copy of Rae’s book.

No one ever came. The teens eventually lost interest in the clumsy woman talking to herself and they went back to their laptops and conversation.

As I stood there with Rae’s books in my hands I figured I might as well do some good for the world and help out the employees, so I put them on the shelf that seemed like the best place for them. TOP TEEN PICKS. Woot!

For the record, I did not take any other author’s books down, I just squeezed Rae’s books into some empty shelf space. If any bookstore employees are reading this, please accept my apologies for interfering with your shelving system. I was frazzled from the book crash incident and jittery from the delicious salted caramel mocha latte that I ordered from the café. I can’t be held responsible for my actions.

Have you ever moved a favorite book so that it has more visibility?

Am I the only one who acts like a hoodlum (not really) in bookstores, or do you have your own story to share?